Giving Up

I did not grow up in a faith tradition that observes the Lenten season. For the past several years, I've dabbled around the edges of observing Lent. I feel like the truly "spiritual" people observe Lent - so naturally - I should...

I feel like a faker. I am a faker. I really don't understand any of it. I want to, but I don't. I am a liturgical wanna-be. So, I'm giving up Lent - for Lent.

I'm giving up trying to be one of the cool kids. I'm giving up cheap imitation. I'm giving up the need to look like I understand the mystery of redemption. I'm giving up pretending that anything I could give up would come remotely close to what Jesus gave up for me.

If Jesus calls you to it, please do give up chocolate, meat, Facebook, texting. Do it. But please tell me how you were changed because of it. Tell me what Jesus revealed to you. Tell me what you were able to embrace because you let go. Tell me how you apprehended the GRACE of God in a new way. Tell me how much joy you found in knowing how much the Father loves you. Tell me of the freedom you found in letting go of some simple thing. Tell me that you are SO free, you're going to keep on giving up that thing. Tell me that the Holy Spirit filled you and sent you out for ministry in power. Please, please tell me that it is more than something you do every year because you are supposed to do it or because everyone else is doing it.

I don't know what the next weeks are going to look like for me. Maybe I will give something up for Lent. But if I do, I hope in its place, I embrace the scandalous love, mercy and grace of Jesus. I hope on Easter Sunday that I am weeping for joy, dancing on the grave of the old me, and overwhelmed with gratitude that God did what I could not do by being good enough, spiritual enough, following enough rules, giving up enough.

Here they are again - the verses God is making real to me through memory and meditation. Romans 8:1-4 NLT.

So now, there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses could not save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent His own Son in a body like the body we sinners have. And in that body, God declared an end to sin's control over us by sending His Son to be a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us who no longer follow our sinful nature, but instead follow the Spirit. 

Overwhelmed by Love

I've been preparing to preach this coming Sunday. My thoughts have been pretty well consumed with how to communicate all that is one my heart. My text is Mark 12:28-34, and the conversation between the Jesus and the teacher of the law. Love is the theme. Love is the focus. Love is Jesus in the flesh.

What started out as a call to the high cost of discipleship ended up being a crash course into the grace, mercy and great love of God.

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love you neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." 

I focused in on that ALL word. Of ALL the commandements, which is the priority? Love God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your mind and with ALL your strength. Five times. ALL. Such a small word - such a huge meaning.

And then it hit me. I wasn't doing it. I wasn't keeping the one commandment that Jesus said was the priority. I couldn't do it. I couldn't because I compartmentalized my life. I kept parts back for myself. I didn't give him my ALL.

Fortunately for me and for the people in PeEll, I've been memorizing Romans 8. I only have the first four verses down, (well, nearly down anyway) The words came flooding into my heart, I believe right straight from the heart of God,

So now, there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to Him, the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us. So God did what the law could not do. He sent His own Son in a body just like the body we sinners have. And in that body, God declared and end to sin's control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us who no longer follow our sinful nature, but instead follow the Spirit.

The law - even the greatest law - cannot save us. Only Jesus can. Only his blood, his forgiveness, his grace, the life-giving Spirit of God can free us from the power of sin. This is why the teacher of the law was "close" to the kingdom, but not in it. This is why we cannot compare ourselves, or try harder to love God. As John said, "We love him because he loved us first." And demonstrated that love by laying down his life as a sacrifice. for our sin - my sin.

I'm undone. All over again. His love is overwhelming.